“In the manger God loves you; through the cross, God saves you.”
“The story of Christmas is the story of God’s relentless love for us,” Max writes, “Let him love you… You might question his actions, decisions, or declarations. But you can never, ever question his zany, stunning, unquenchable affection” (pages 134-135).
This week has been the culmination of all the others. We have settled in our hearts the assurance of hope Christ gives. We have a better understanding of the sweet peace that is only available through the Prince of Peace. And, we are full of joy fresh and new by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts.
The most valuable gift we can receive this Christmas is the LOVE of God.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NLT
This is what it is all about, y’all! If you have received anything from this study, may it be most profoundly a clearer and deeper revelation of God’s love for you!
Chapter 10
In chapter 10, we read of the package with which this precious and perfect gift arrived. We are easily deceived if we determined the value of a gift by the mere appearance of the packaging! Yet, the way Christ came is every bit as important as the fact that He came.
What a profound and utterly unimaginable act of humility for the Son of God to enter our world as one of us. He set aside His high position in order to come to the earth in the lowliest of ways – born in a stable to a common family. “The One who made everything made Himself nothing.”
We are to have the same mindset of Christ who humbled Himself before us, and now we must humble ourselves before Him.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very natur] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 NIV
Chapter 11
Max uses the analogy of the Christmas tree to help us better understand the love of Christ toward us. What we do for the tree is similar to what Christ does for us. He chose us; purchased us; prepares us; prunes us; decorates us; and uses us for a unique purpose.
He endows us with gifts so that we can share His love and grace with others.
However, the most beautiful tree of all is the rugged cross upon which Jesus came to die. This was His purpose, and He fulfilled it completely!
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 NLT
Chapter 12
My biggest take away from this chapter is to realize the lengths that Christ reached to redeem us. He didn’t come only to the noble or the ones valued by this world. He came to love and redeem everyone from every walk of life. There is no one who is unreachable or too far for Christ to reach. There are no limits Christ is not willing to go for you!
Just as Christ was born in a smelly and dirty stable, there is no situation that will turn Him away from you. He is not grossed out by your past or disgusted with your situation. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty to lift you out of your pit.
If you haven’t experienced His love, or you have a hard time understanding your place in His plan, the best place to go is straight to the manger. Allow your heart to become a place for Christ to enter in and be born in you. Allow Him to live through you, and He will make all things new!
Here is this week’s info:
Reading Schedule
December 19-23
- Read pp. 187-194 to complete the Advent portion
- Small groups to discuss chapters 10-12 and week 4 of Advent
Discussion Questions
Here is a sneak peek of the questions we will be discussing this week in our small groups.
Appetizer Question:
Name a favorite Christmas movie. Do you have a favorite character, scene, or quote from that movie?
Main Course:
- Take a moment and reflect on your relationship with God. This is in three parts. A) When would you say you were most aware of and most certain of God’s love for you? B) Do you have a time in your life that led you to question God’s love for you? C) Where are you in your current season? Do you find it difficult to accept God’s love for you? Do you doubt it? Or, are you freshly aware of how lavishly He loves you?
- “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47 NLT
Consider the woman who broke the alabaster jar of oil, or perfume, to anoint Jesus’ feet. Because she had been forgiven much, her love for Jesus was extravagant and demonstrative.
How does it make you feel to look back at your life before and after Jesus came into your life? If you were a child when you accepted Christ, you may look at how your life might have turned out without Him. How does this affect your understanding of Christ’s love for you as well as your desire to express love back to him? How does this make the story of Christmas more meaningful to you?
- “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us… We love each other because he loved us first.” 1 John 4:9-12, 19 NLT
What are some ways God is leading you to share His love with others?
- “The moment Mary touched God’s face is the moment God made his case: there is no place he will not go. If he is willing to be born in a barnyard, then expect him to be at work anywhere – bars, bedrooms, boardrooms, and brothels. No place is too common. No person is too hardened. No distance is too far. There is no person he cannot reach. There is no limit to his love.” (p. 135)
There are times the church may be known for showing favoritism, and I wonder if it grieves the heart of Christ to see division in his body. Jesus made it quite clear how much he loves everyone in the world, regardless of background, appearance, race, money, or sin. We are all broken, and we are all in need a Savior. That is why He came.
How can we as a church repair the division and break down the barriers of social status, racism, gender equality, and denominational backgrounds within the body of Christ? What is the role of love here?
- “If the King was willing to enter the world of animals and shepherds and swaddling clothes, don’t you think he’s willing to enter yours? He took on your face in the hope that you would see his” (page 20).
As you anticipate the coming new year, in what circumstances do you feel the greatest need to see the face of Immanuel, God with you?
- “God created celebration; he is the author of joy, pleasure, and merriment. In fact, Jesus described the kingdom as a great banquet to which everyone is invited (Matt. 22:1-14). At Christmas we train our hearts for heaven by celebrating God’s miraculous gift of Jesus. And just as Paul and Silas chose to sing praises even while imprisoned (Acts 16:22-25), we can choose joy and celebration at Christmas regardless of our circumstances.”
What is a meaningful way we can celebrate Jesus this Christmas in light of the things we have discussed today?
Dessert:
Just as the angels jubilantly proclaimed praises to God at the birth of Christ, let us also lift our voices (or our keyboards!) and proclaim praises to the Lord today!
How This Works
- Watch the videos: Max Lucado’s video and devotion for week 4 is free at Faithgateway.com. You can find all four videos right here: http://www.faithgateway.com/because-of-bethlehem-study-home/
• Optional sermons: Max Lucado’s sermon series, “Because of Bethlehem,” is also available on YouTube. Here is week 5.
• Optional coloring book: Just for fun, why not purchase the coloring booktoo?
• Subscribe to this site, if you haven’t already, to receive future updates by email. Enter your email address to the right and click the subscribe button.
• Join our Facebook group, Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study, for daily interaction, activities, videos, and small group sessions. This is a closed group, and no one will be able to see our posts unless they are members of the group. This is for your safety and privacy.
• Small Groups: We will have photos posted in our Facebook groupto mark the location of each small group meeting. You are welcome to attend any group you wish. There is no registration.
• Small Group Schedule:
- Follow my ministry page on Facebook, Shari Lewis Ministries, to stay up-to-date on ministry events and for daily prayers, nuggets of wisdom and encouragement for your life, photos that you are welcome to share, and faith building blog posts to strengthen your walk with Christ.
I want to wish you and your family the merriest of Christmases and a very happy and prosperous New Year!
